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Westpac sells its vaults even as demand for physical wealth soars

The Australian Financial Review (AFR) •
November 06, 2026 • 09:00 AM
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After almost a century, three of the big banks are now out of the safety deposit game despite the case for concrete and cold steel rarely having looked stronger.

Westpac sells its vaults even as demand for physical wealth soars

It takes half a dozen security doors, multiple alarm systems, ballistic glass, concealed numeric keypads, biometric facial recognition and several feet of solid steel to reach the inner sanctum of one of Guardian Vault’s facilities.

“I’m tired just thinking about it,” laughs chief executive Sally Laycock, noting it has never suffered a single attempted breach in its 25 years. “It’d be easier to knock off a 7-Eleven.”

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